GOLF

BIRDIE KIM WINS WOMEN’S U.S. OPEN

South Korea’s Birdie Kim blasted in a stunning 72nd-hole birdie from a greenside bunker to win the U.S. Women’s Open by two strokes. The 23-year-old Korean punched the ball high to the 18th-hole green and her low rolling effort was right on line, dropping into the cup to complete a final-round one-over par 72 to finish on three-over par 287.

“I didn’t think I would make it. I just tried to get it close, to make par,” Kim said. “I didn’t even think about the ball going into the hole. It’s amazing.”

Kim, who played last year as Ju-Yun Kim, was even with 17-year-old US amateur Morgan Pressel as they began the final hole. But Kim made the only weekend birdie on the hole and just the fourth of the week.

Kim became the third Korean to win a women’s golf major, following Grace Park at last year’s Kraft Nabisco and Se Ri Pak’s multiple victories. Kim had made the cut in only nine of 33 LPGA starts. U.S. amateurs Brittany Lang and Morgan Pressel, 17, settled for sharing second on 289. Pressel fired a 75, her bid to force a playoff failing when a chip rolled well wide on the 18th hole.

Annika Sorenstam’s bid for a Grand Slam sweep collapsed when the Swedish star opened her front nine with a pair of bogeys and concluded it with another, her last-round 77 leaving her on 296. Michelle Wie, a 15-year-old US amateur who began the round sharing the lead with Pressel and England’s Karen Stupples, fired a final-round 82. Sorenstam and Wie both finished the tournament at +12.

HARRINGTON WINS BARCLAYS CLASSIC

Ireland’s Padraig Harrington eagled the 72nd hole to win the PGA Barclays Classic yesterday, sinking a 65-foot putt from the fringe of the green to edge American Jim Furyk by one stroke. It was the second U.S. tour triumph of the year for Harrington, who won his first U.S. title at the Honda Classic, and helped make up for the Irishman’s playoff loss here last year to Spain’s Sergio Garcia. Harrington’s final round 70, one-under par, was enough for him to finish on 10-under par 274.

Furyk made bogeys at 16 and 17 to open the door for Harrington after leading by three strokes with five holes to play. He birdied the 18th to complete a par-71 round and finish on nine-under 275.

BASKETBALL

SOURCES: FERRY TO BECOME CAVALIERS GM

Danny Ferry has left the front office of the NBA champion San Antonio Spurs to become general manager of the Cleveland Cavaliers, two league sources said last night. Ferry, who played 10 seasons with the Cavaliers, accepted the job yesterday, the sources told the Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity. Ferry’s hiring is expected to be announced today – one day before the NBA draft.

Ferry spent the last two years as San Antonio’s director of basketball operations under GM R.C. Buford. The 38-year-old Ferry played in a club-record 723 games for the Cavaliers from 1990-2000. He played the final three years of his career with San Antonio, where he worked with Cleveland coach Mike Brown, then an assistant with the Spurs.

TRACK AND FIELD

GATLIN SWEEPS SPRINTS AT AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

Justin Gatlin cemented his status as America’s fastest man yesterday by winning the 200 meters, becoming the first man in 20 years to sweep the sprints at the U.S. track and field championships. A day after winning the 100, Gatlin turned it on down the stretch to win the 200 in 20.04 seconds.

The last man to win both races at the U.S. meet was Kirk Baptiste in 1985. Tyson Gay, just out of Arkansas, was second in 20.06, followed by the Olympic gold medalist in the event, Shawn Crawford, in 20.12. It was a triumphant performance after a near-disastrous start for the 23-year-old Gatlin. The Olympic gold medalist in the 100 and bronze medalist in the 200 was disqualified for a false start in the 100 preliminaries Friday. He was reinstated after a protest.

Kerron Clement won the 400 hurdles and Allyson Felix took the women’s 200, as both 19-year-olds posted two of the most impressive championship performances from a young corps of talent that is taking over the sport in the U.S.

SOCCER

NEW GENERATION LEADS AMERICAN WOMEN TO WIN

Many of the faces are different, but the U.S. women’s soccer team looked much the same in its 2005 debut on home soil. Lori Chalupny and Christie Welsh scored first-half goals and the U.S. beat Canada 2-0 in an exhibition yesterday, introducing some new players while giving Greg Ryan a victory in his first game since being promoted to head coach.

“I bet the fans missed the old ladies that retired, but with this team, there are going to be so many personalities that will come out,” said 33-year-old Kristine Lilly, the only member of the “Fab Five” still on the team. “These young players are talented.”

The game was played in a steady rain, and the U.S. team dominated even without familiar stars Mia Hamm, Julie Foudy and Joy Fawcett, who retired after last season. Brandi Chastain, who scored the winning penalty kick to help the U.S. win the 1999 World Cup, also was left off the team.

ARGENTINA ADVANCES TO CONFEDERATIONS CUP FINAL

Argentina beat Mexico 6-5 on penalty kicks yesterday, setting up a showdown for the Confederations Cup title with great rival and World Cup champion Brazil.

After 90 minutes of regulation play with no goals, Carlos Salcido scored during overtime in the 104th minute for Mexico and Luciano Figueroa tied it in the 110th for Argentina. Esteban Cambiasso scored the clinching penalty kick after Ricardo Osorio was the first to miss at 5-5. The title game between the South American powers is Wednesday in Frankfurt while the Mexicans face host Germany for third place the same day in Leipzig. Brazil won the other semifinal Saturday, beating Germany 3-2 in Nuremberg.

BASEBALL

METS PLACE MIENTKIEWICZ ON DL

Doug Mientkiewicz was placed on the 15-day disabled list yesterday by the Mets after injuring his right hamstring in the on-deck circle. The first baseman had an MRI yesterday that revealed a slight tear. He said he had never pulled a muscle in his life.

“Pull a muscle in the on-deck circle, how do you do that?” Mets manager Willie Randolph said. The Mets purchased the contract of veteran infielder Jose Offerman from Triple-A Norfolk.

Mientkiewicz was hurt warming up for his first at-bat during the Mets’ 10-3 victory over the Yankees on Saturday. He stayed in and batted twice before leaving in the fifth inning. Chris Woodward started at first base last night.

– Associated Press